 Most viewed - Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri 国府宮はだか祭 |
Konomiya Hadaka Festival, Inazawa, Aichi Pref.567 views
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A group of men carry a red and white pole in front of Inazawa Station, on their way to Konomiya Shrine.548 views
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522 views
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Gaijin girls had an easy time attracting men who happily tried to converse in English and bestow cloth strips.468 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station418 views
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405 views
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Konomiya Shrine holds the Hadaka (Naked or Nude) Festival in early March, or Jan. 13 of the lunar calendar. Men in loincloths parade around the streets until they reach the shrine.400 viewsA Sacred Man (Shin-otoko) also appears in the shrine and the men try to touch him before he slips into the shrine's window. The festival's real name is Naoi-shinji 儺追神事 which is a rite to dispel bad luck. Photo: Nearest station is JR Inazawa Station on the Tokaido Line. 稲沢駅
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It was a pretty cold day, and these men were drinking all afternoon.388 views
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380 views
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Sometimes a man from the window jumps into the crowd to grab and take in the Sacred Man.371 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko 神男：加藤 典彦359 views
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They zig-zag along the street, and they are filled with sake.357 views
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Maybe this is the Sacred Man being pulled into the window.341 views
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Gaijin talking to gaijin. Sounded Australian. English teacher at junior high.334 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko, from Ichinomiya 神男：加藤 典彦334 views
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322 views
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318 views
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304 views
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299 views
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They get pretty crazy, getting more water.293 views
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Cloth strips (100 yen each) to ward off bad luck 厄除けの ”なおいぎれ” 初穂料 １本 １００円291 views
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Every once in a while, they raise their pole.289 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station289 views
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The Sacred Man struggles to reach the small window.282 views
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279 views
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Closeup of giant mochi. Solid as a rock.279 views
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On the straight road from Inazawa Station to Konomiya Shrine.275 views
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Numerous groups of near-naked men (no women) proceed to the shrine all afternoon.275 views
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When the Sacred Man enters the window, everyone cheers.270 views
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Tree surrounded with cloth strips called Naoi-gire264 views
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Some of the men tear off strips from their handband and give them to bystanders.261 views
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Giant kagami mochi, rice cake in the Haiden Hall. Over 2 meters tall and over 2 meters diameter. Weighs 4 tons. They are to be cut into small pieces (with a chain saw) and given away the next morning.257 views
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The festival is over.251 views
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The men in the window give directions to the Sacred Man.250 views
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All the men want to touch the Sacred Man, believing that it will dispel bad luck.248 views
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248 views
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The window where the Sacred Man entered.246 views
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Konomiya Shrine torii and the long path to the shrine is lined with a large crowd.245 views
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This is the small window the Sacred Man has to enter. It has a sprinkler system.243 views
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Zig-zag to the shrine239 views
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The inner path to the shrine gets more crowded.237 views
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All the men look in the direction of the Sacred Man.231 views
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Giant mochi inside the Haiden hall. 大鏡餅奉納229 views
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They are waiting for the Sacred Man.227 views
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More giant mochi offered to the shrine. Notice the forklift. 大鏡餅奉納227 views
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The men are shouting "Kami-o Kami-o" (another way of pronouncing the kanji for Kami-otoko). 神男221 views
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Haiden Hall where the men offer their long poles. 拝殿220 views
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219 views
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Men with buckets come for a refill.213 views
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All the men look in the direction of the Sacred Man, but few can actually see him or touch him for good luck.212 views
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207 views
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After passing through this gate, the men enter the shrine grounds. Romon Gate 楼門205 views
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201 views
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201 views
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Another torii200 views
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Inside the shrine hall.198 views
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Men start to pour into the shrine.195 views
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Now they start to splash cold water on the men, and some of the spectators.191 views
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190 views
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Romon Gate 楼門188 views
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185 views
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Banzai cheers when an extra-large pole was brought to the shrine.183 views
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Water supply183 views
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Splashing water182 views
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Now empty, this path will soon be filled with thousands of men in loincloths.181 views
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Haiden Hall 拝殿180 views
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Stacking up the poles.178 views
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175 views
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